How Many Years of Updates Does Each Phone Brand Give?
Samsung gives up to seven years of Android and security updates on its recent Galaxy S flagships and foldables, and six years on newer Galaxy A phones such as the A16 5G, A26, A36 and A56. Google gives seven years on the Pixel 8 and newer, and Apple has historically supported iPhones for six to eight years. Budget brands such as Infinix and Tecno usually give about two Android upgrades. This guide lists the policies by brand and shows how to check any phone.
Updated 24 October 2026
Why update years matter
Software updates bring two things: new Android or iOS versions with new features, and security patches that fix holes hackers can use. A phone without security updates still works, but banking apps, WhatsApp and other apps slowly stop supporting it, and it becomes riskier to use for payments. When you compare prices, a phone with seven years of updates can be much better value than a cheaper phone with two. Update policies usually count from the phone's launch date, not from the day you buy it, so a phone launched two years ago has two fewer years left. Imported Non Custom box pack phones get the same updates as the international model, because updates come from the brand, not the seller.
Samsung: how many years of updates?
Samsung security updates last longer than most Android brands, but the length depends on the series and launch year: - Galaxy S24, S25 and S26 series (including FE and Edge models), plus the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 and newer foldables: up to seven years of Android upgrades and security updates. - Newer Galaxy A phones, such as the Galaxy A16 5G, A26 5G, A36 5G and A56 5G: six Android upgrades and six years of security updates. - Galaxy S23 series and S23 FE, and Galaxy A55 and A35: four Android upgrades and five years of security updates. - Older and cheaper Galaxy A and M phones: often fewer, sometimes two Android upgrades.
So not all Samsung phones get seven years of updates; only the recent flagships and foldables do. Check the exact model before buying. See Samsung Galaxy series explained (Samsung Galaxy Series Explained: Which One Should You Buy?).
Apple iPhone: how many years of updates?
Apple does not publish a fixed number, but its track record is the strongest in the market. iOS 27, released in 2026, still supports the iPhone 11 from 2019 and every newer iPhone, which means about seven to eight years of major iOS updates for those models. After major updates end, Apple usually keeps sending important security fixes for a while longer.
Newer features such as Apple Intelligence need newer hardware (iPhone 15 Pro and later), so an older iPhone gets the update but not every feature. For buyers in Pakistan, this long support is one reason used iPhones keep their value; see best old iPhone to buy (Best Old iPhone to Buy: Which Used iPhone Is Still Worth It?).
Google Pixel and OnePlus
Google gives seven years of Android and security updates on the Pixel 8, Pixel 8a and every newer Pixel, including the Pixel 9a and the Pixel 10 series. Pixels also get updates first, on the same day Google releases them. Older Pixels get less: the Pixel 6 and 7 series have a shorter support window, so check before buying an older model.
OnePlus promises four major Android upgrades and six years of security updates on recent flagships such as the OnePlus 13 and 13R. Nord phones usually get fewer. OxygenOS is clean and fast, but update timing can be slower than Pixel or Samsung.
Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, Realme and Honor
Chinese brands have improved a lot, but the promise depends on the series: - Xiaomi: flagship phones such as the Xiaomi 15 get around four Android upgrades and up to six years of security updates. Redmi Note and Poco phones usually get fewer, and budget Redmi phones fewer still. - Vivo and Oppo: recent flagship X and Find X phones get long support, often four to five Android upgrades. Mid-range V and Reno phones typically get three or so, and budget Y and A models less. - Realme and Honor: number-series and Magic flagships get longer support; budget C and X series get around two upgrades.
These brands often update their mid-range phones later than flagships, so the actual wait for each version can be several months.
Infinix, Tecno and itel
Transsion brands give the shortest support. The Infinix GT 30 Pro, for example, comes with a promise of two Android upgrades and three years of security updates, and many budget Infinix, Tecno and itel phones get one upgrade or none, with security patches that arrive irregularly. These phones are great value for specs, but if you plan to keep a phone for four or five years, a Samsung Galaxy A or a Pixel 'a' model is a safer choice. Compare them in Infinix vs Tecno (Infinix vs Tecno: Which Brand Is Better?).
How to check when your phone stops getting updates
- Look up the launch date and the brand's promise for that model; count forward from launch.
- On Android, open Settings > About phone > Android version and check the security patch level. If the patch is more than three or four months old and no update is waiting, support may be ending.
- Samsung lists supported models on its security updates page, sorted by monthly, quarterly and biannual updates. A phone missing from the list no longer gets patches.
- On iPhone, open Settings > General > Software Update, and check Apple's list of models compatible with the latest iOS.
When buying a used or older model, do this check before you pay. Phones that last longest (Best Phone for Long Term Use in Pakistan: Phones That Last Longest) lists our longest-supported picks.
